Rotisserie construction



July 13, 1965 A. GOLDSTEIN 3,194,150

ROTISSERIE CONSTRUCTION Filed July 29, 1963 United States Patent 3,l4=,l5i5 RQTEEERHE GGNSTRUCTKUN Arnoid Goldstein, 3363 Trexier Blvd, Allentown, Pa. Filed July 29, 1963. Ser. No. 298,017 4 Ciairns. (Cl. 99-42l) This invention relates to a rotisserie construction and i more particularly to an improved construction allowing simplified dual-positoning of the spit and movement therebetween.

Known rotisseries are similar in general construction to the present invention, except that the motive rotary means must be pivotally mounted to allow the spit to be moved from the normal operational position within the rotisserie hood to a position perpendicular to the normal position, in which the food product being cooked may be either examined or the spit and food product may be removed from the rotisserie. The rotisserie is normally made of a thin gage sheet metal which is normally suificient for hea t containment purposes, but since it must also maintain the necessary pivotal apparatus to effectuate movement of the rotary means as well as the spit and food product, it is necessary to reinforce those portions of the rotisserie that will bear this additional stress. Accordingly, both the cost of materials and the subsequent assembly is increased due to the necessity for these structural additions. It is therefore, among the objects of the present invention to provide a rotisserie construction which will eliminate the need for pivotal rotary motor means.

An important feature of the present invention lies in the fact that it eliminates the necessity. for structurally reinforcing the sheet metal heat container element of the rotisserie. This allows the heat container element to be fabricated and assembled by means of relatively few and simple production techniques and steps.

An object of the present invention is to provide a rotisserie as described which will eliminate the need for pivotally mounting the rotary motor rneans.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a rotisserie construction of the class described which will eliminate the need for reinforcing the rotisserie so as to allow it to support the additional weight of the pivot mount thus eliminating material expense and costs of more elaborate assembly operational procedure.

Another object herein lies in the provision of a rotisserie construction having a non-mechanical support which may be simply and fixedly secured to the rotisserie.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a support for a rotisserie which has no moving parts and is simple to fabricate from standard stock.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a support for a rotisserie which will act as a support and guide for a spit when it is in its operational position, and will also act as a support for the spit when it is placed in inspection and removal position, perpendicular to that of the operational position.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a support for a rotisserie construction which may be manufactured in large scale at relatively low costs, and yet prove reliable and durable in use.

These objects and features, as well as other incidental ends and advantages, Will more fully appear in the progress of the following disclosure, and be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, to which reference will be made in the specification, similar reference characters have been employed to designate cor-responding parts throughout the several views.

FIGURE 1 is a front perspective view of a rotis erie construction with the spit in operational position.

Bdhtidd FIGURE 2 is a perspective front View similar to FIG- URE 1, but showing the spit in the inspection or removal position.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary perspective view of the support embodying the invention.

*FlGURE 4 is an elevational view of the support shown in FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a side elevational view of FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 6 is a left side elevational View of FIG- URE 4.

A preferred embodiment of the invention includes a rotisserie having a base member and a hood member, motive rotary means mounted on the outside or" the hood member, a spit .to support a food product, and the support secured to the inside. of the hood member. The support has no moving parts and can be fabricated from standard cold stock and finished in any desired manner. The ends of the support are flattened and have holes through which screws may pass, securing the support to the inner surface of the hood member of the rotissserie. Depending from the first or left flattened end portion is a tubular straight portion which extends in parallel relation to the hood member. Depending in substantially perpendicular relation to the straight portion is an elbow section having an upwardly directed first elbow portion and a downwardly directed second elbow portion, meeting at an elbow joint. Depending from the second elbow portion and perpendicular thereto is a saddle loop portion ending in a lower veritcal elevation and meeting a tubular rounded portion which extends perpendicularly therefrom. A tubular rounded portion terminates in the second or right flattened end portion. The support is secured on the inner surface of the hood member so that the lowest portion of the saddle loop portion will be slightly below the lowest portion of the socket of the motive rotary means. Accordingly, as the spit is placed in operational position, the support will serve the dual function of leading and guiding the .spit into the rotary means socket, and aiding in supporting the spit between operational rotations of the spit. When it is desired to examine thefood product or completely remove the food product and the spit from the rotisserie, the spit is withdrawn slightly so as to free the end of the spitrfrorn the socket and it is then swung over pivotally retained in the elbow joint of the elbow section of the support. The spit is then pivoted, using the lbow joint as the pivot over the saddle loop portion to the right and hence causing the spit to come to rest at the junction of the straight tubular extension and the tubular rounded portion. The support will maintain the spit in this position for either inspection or for subsequent removal from the rotisserie.

in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, the rotisserie construction generally designated by reference character It? comprises broadly the base member 12, the hood member 14, a prime mover 16 having a socket 18, a support 24 and a spit 22.

Base member 12 is composed of a basic insulating and reflecting material such as sheet metal and has a circular bottom 2-4, heaving a top surface 26. periphery of and depending perpendicularly from the bottom 2 of base member 12 is an upstanding cylindrical side wall 2% having an inner surface 3% and an outer surface .32. Said side wall terminates at a top edge 34. A top surface 26 of circular bottom wall 24 and an inner surface 30 of the sidewall 23 define a cylindrical cavity in which fuel providing the cooking heat for the rotisserie may be placed.

The hood member of the rotisserie 10 is also made from an insulating yet reflecting material such as sheet metal. The hood member is fabricated to include a circular half top wall 36 having an upper surface 37 and terminating Secured to the and terminating at edges 43 and 44.

in a centrally disposed rectilinear edge 38. Secured to the periphery of and depending downwardly and perpendicularly from the top wall 36 is a cylindrical half wall 40, including an outer surface it and an inner surface 42, Lower portion 4-6 of the half wall id is secured at an inner surface 42, to the the outer surface 32 of the side wall 28 by any convenient means, such as clipping or the like.

Punched out of the half wall 49 and disposed substantially axially thereto are a key hole slot 48 and an opening 59 defined by an edge 52. Secured to the outer surface ill of cylindrical half wall 4 is an electric motor 16 hav ing a shaft extending therefrom, the free end of which is modified to form a socket 18 which is adapted to receive spit 22. The cross section of the socket herein illustrated is square, but it may be any polygonal or non-circular shape, such that there will be no slippage of the spit Within the socket during rotational movement. The socket is aligned with opening 59 so that the spit may pass theret-hrough and into engagement with the socket.

The spit 22 includes a handle 23 which is generally cylindrical in shape and also includes a portion 25 of reduced diameter which receives the edges of the cylindrical half wall do defined by the key hole slot 43 and thus aids in maintaining spit in operative position. The remaining portion of spit 22 is for the engagement of a food prod net, the end of which is selectively received within the socket 18.

The support Zti is fabricated from standard cylindrical stock, and after forming and shaping, may be coated by 'means of dipping, plating, or any other desired method to impart a heat and corrosion resistant finish. The sup port includes a first or left flattened end portion 54 and a second or right flattened end portion 56, having holes 58 therein in which screws 62 may pass thus securing the support to the inner surface 42 of the cylindrical half wai 4d of the rotisserie it). Depending from the left or first flattened end portion 54 is a tubular straight portion 64 which extends downwardly along and in parallel relationship to the inner surface 42 of the cylindrical half Wall 4%. Depending from the tubular straight portion 64 in a plane perpendicular to the axis of said straight portion is an elbow section 66 comprising an upwardly directed first elbow portion 68 and a downwardly directed second elbow portion 70 meeting at elbow joint 69. The elbow 66 thus provides a downwardly directed pivot for the purpose hereinafter appearing. Depending from the downwardly directed second elbow portion 70 of elbow section 66 is saddle loop portion 72. Said loop portion is in a plane perpendicular to the plane of said elbow section 66, but in a plane parallel to the axis of the straight tubular portion 64-. Said saddle loop portion meets second elbow portion '70 at a joinder 74, extends to a lowermost point 75 and ends at a joinder '78, which while it is higher in elevation than point '76, is lower in elevation than the joinder '74, and perpendicular to the plane of the saddle loop portion 72 is straight tubular extension 36 which extends downwardly towards side wall 49. Said tubular extension then becomes'a tubular rounded portion 82 which then joins the second or right flattened end portion 56. The support is so positioned that the area at point 76 of saddle loop portion '72 is aligned with the opening 50 at the bottom-most elevational portion of edge 52.

In use the food product such as a roast or fowl is impaled on the spit and positioned so as to expose the tip or end 21. Next the end 21 is preferably rested on the saddle loop portion '72. Then the spit end 21 is guided into position for engagement with socket 18. Portion 25 of handle 23 is rotatively engaged with the edges of cylindrical half wall defining key hole slot 48. The rotary motor 16 may then be turned on and the normal operational rotation of the spit is commenced.

When it is desired to examine the food product or remove the food product from the cooking heat, the portion 25 is removed from the key hole slot 28, and the end 21 which was disposed within the socket is now disengaged. By moving the handle 23 in a counterclockwise direction or to the right as viewed in FIGURE 1 the end 21 may be slid under joint 69 while an inner portion of the spit Zll rides over the joinder 78 to take the position shown in FIGURE 2. Thus the further counterclockwise movement of the spit causes the spit to ride along saddle loop portion 73 until it reaches joinder 78, at which point it rides on the extension 39 which by gravity guides it to the rounded portion 82 where the spit again will rest in a supported position. Thus portion 82 and elbow section es form a support which as just described will support the spit for inspection of the food product, or support it just preparatory to removing the spit entirely from the rotisserie. Of course, if the food is only to be inspected, by simply reversing the previously described steps the spit may be returned to the rotary operative position.

Thus it will be seen that by placing this relatively simple to fabricate, non-mechanical supporting construction in fixed position on a rotisserie, it is possible to accomplish exactly the same result as previously accomplished by cumbersome and costly pivotal structures.

While certain of the parts are described as tubular it will be understood that they may preferably have a cylindrical exterior surface, but may be hollow, or solid and rod-like.

Having illustrated and described the selected embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that these are capable of variation and modification and I, therefore, do not consider the invention limited to the precise details set forth herein but desire to avail myself of such changes and alterations as fall within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In combination:

(a) a rotisserie hood member having a side wall with an inner and outer surface, said side Wall defiining openings;

(b) rotary means secured to the outer surface of said side wall of said hood member and having polygonalshaped socket means communicating with one of said openings;

(c) spit means passing through another of said openings and received within said socket; and

(d) a support for said spit means mounted on said side wall, said support having a first flattened end portion secured to said side wall, a tubular straight portion depending from said first flattened end portion, an elbow section having an elbow joint depending from said tubular straight portion, a saddle loop portion depending from said elbow section, and a tubular straight extension and rounded portion depending from said saddle loop portion, and a second flattened end portion depending from said rounded portion and secured to said side wall.

2. In a rotisserie construction having a hood member, rotary means mounted on said hood member, spit means to engage a food product to be cooked Within said rotisserie hood, the improvement comprising: a support mounted on said hood member having a tubular rounded portion for engagement with said spit before normal rotary operative position, and a stationary support member to support said spit during the food inspection or withdrawal of said spit from said rotisserie; a support for said spit means mounted on said side wall, said support having a first flattened end portion secured to said side wall, a tubular straight portion depending from said first flattened end portion, an elbow section having an elbow joint depending from said tubular straight portion, a saddle loop portion depending from said elbow section, and a tubular straight extension and rounded portion depending from said saddle loop portion, and a second rotary means mounted on said hood member, spit means to engage a food product to be cooked within said rotisflattened end portion depending from said rounded portion and secured to said side Wall.

3. In combination:

(a) a rotisserie hood member having a side wall with an inner and outer surface, said side wall defining 5 openings;

(b) rotary means secured to the outer surface of said side wall of said hood member and having polygonalshaped socket meansconununicating with one of said openings;

(c) spit means passing through another of said open ings and received within said socket; and

(d) a support for said spit means mounted on said side wall, said support having a first end portion secured to said side wall, a straight portion depending from 15 said first end portion, an elbow section having an elbow joint depending from said straight portion, a saddle portion depending from said elbow section, and a straight extension and rounded portion depending from said saddle portion, and a second end portion depending from said rounded portion and secured to said side wall.

4. In a rotisserie construction having a hood member,

serie hood, the improvement comprising: a support mounted on said hood member having a rounded portion for engagement with said spit before normal rotary operative position, and a stationary support member to support said spit during the food inspection or withdrawal of said spit from said rotisserie; a support for said spit means mounted on said side wall, said support having a first end portion secured to said side wall, a straight portion depending from said first end portion, an elbow section having an elbow joint depending from said straight portion, a saddle portion depending from said elbow section, a straight extension and rounded portion depending from said saddle portion, and a second end portion depending from said rounded portion and secured to said side wall.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,482,068 9/49 Larson 99-421 2,522,223 9/50 Hardin et al 99421 2,797,633 7/57 Goodwin 99--421 3,100,435 8/63 Mobley 99-421 ROBERT E. PULFREY, Primary Examiner. JEROME SCHNA'LL, Examiner. 

1. IN COMBINATION: (A) A ROTISSERIE HOOD MEMBER HAVING A SIDE WALL WITH AN INNER AND OUTER SURFACE, SAID SIDE WALL DEFINING OPENINGS; (B) ROTARY MEANS SECURED TO THE OUTER SURFACE OF SAID SIDE WALL OF SAID HOOD MEMBER AND HAVING POLYGONALSHAPED SOCKET MEANS COMMUNICATING WITH ONE OF SAID OPENINGS; (C) SPIT MEANS PASSING THROUGH ANOTHER OF SAID OPENINGS AND RECEIVED WITHIN SAID SOCKET; AND (D) A SUPPORT FOR SAID SPIT MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID SIDE WALL, SAID SUPPORT HAVING A FIRST FLATTENED END PORTION SECURED TO SAID SIDE WALL, A TUBULAR STRAIGHT PORTION DEPENDING FROM SAID FIRST FLATTENED END PORTION, AN ELBOW SECTION HAVING AN ELBOW JOINT DEPENDING FROM SAID TUBULAR STRAIGHT PORTION, A SADDLE LOOP PORTION DEPENDING FROM SAID ELBOW SECTION, AND A TUBULAR STRIAGHT EXTENSION AND ROUNDED PORTION DEPENDING FROM SAID SADDLE LOOP PORTION, AND A SECOND FLAT- 